Several years after a dispute between armed tribal factions led to arrests and some jail time over accusations of holding people against their will at gunpoint the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians are again in the news—over a dispute between groups that each claim to be the legal tribal leadership.
The tribe of about 800 members operates the Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino, which was forced to close for more than a year during the last troubles.
Last week the Tribal Council sent a team to enter and eject a faction from former tribal offices. According to a statement: “More than anything, it is a safety concern as the buildings have structural issues and were never intended for personal use. Moving forward, there are plans to remove the current damaged structures, making room for future growth opportunities for all Tribal Members and the adjacent Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino.”
Earlier this week the Madera County Sheriff’s Office sent deputies to the scene early in the morning.
Chairman Craig Chenot, who issued the statement, and who is part of the “Featherstone Faction,” told Fox News that a rival group called the “Ruiz Faction” occupied the old tribal offices by force. Chernot claimed that the other faction’s security people were “pointing guns” and had brought tow trucks to tow tribal vehicles off the premises and were also removing files from the building.
According to Chenot the Ruiz Faction has not been allowed on the reservation for seven years and was trying to retake power.
The Featherstone faction compares this power grab to illegal immigrants trying to cross the border to become citizens. “Featherstone” is named after its leader, Donna Featherstone, who told Fox News that about 300 members of the Ruiz Faction wanted to force their way onto tribal rolls.
The previous armed stand-off occurred in 2014 when a federal judge ordered the casino closed for more than a year. It only reopened after getting permission from the National Indian Gaming Commission.
